Retired doctor dies after 70 hours of ‘digital arrest

By Sumesh Rajan | September 18, 2025

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA: In a shocking case of cybercrime leading to death, a 76-year-old retired government doctor from Hyderabad collapsed and died of a heart attack after nearly 70 hours of relentless harassment by fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials. The scammers extorted ₹6.6 lakh from her pension account and continued sending threats and messages even after her death, police said on Tuesday.

How the Ordeal Began

The victim, who had served as Chief Senior Resident Medical Officer at Mamidipudi Nagarjuna Area Hospital in Malakpet, received her first WhatsApp video call on September 5. The call came from a number ending in *62, which displayed the Bengaluru Police logo as its profile picture.

The callers, impersonating police and central agencies, showed forged documents carrying the seals of the Supreme Court, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They accused the doctor of involvement in a fabricated “Sadat Khan Human Trafficking Case” and threatened to arrest her under the National Security Act (NSA) if she refused to comply.

Extortion of ₹6.6 Lakh

Frightened by the threats, the doctor transferred ₹6.6 lakh on September 6 from her Union Bank pension account to an ICICI Bank account linked to a shell entity in Maharashtra.

However, the harassment did not stop. The victim’s phone showed another number, ending in *04, saved as “Jaishankar Sir”, which continued to send intimidating WhatsApp messages, fake court notices, and repeated video calls.

Collapse and Death

Under continuous mental torture and fearing arrest and humiliation, the doctor collapsed at her residence in Madhura Nagar on September 8 with severe chest pain.

She was rushed first to Raja Nursing Home in Yousufguda and later shifted to Apollo Spectra Clinic in Ameerpet, where doctors declared her dead at 12.30 pm.

Harassment Even After Death

The family only came to know about the full extent of her ordeal after her funeral on September 9, when they checked her phone. Disturbingly, the fraudsters continued sending messages even after her death.

“The scammers continued sending messages even after her death. They sent the last message saying ‘good morning’ on September 10,” a police official quoted the complainant as saying.

Police Action

Based on the son’s complaint, Hyderabad Cybercrime Police registered a case under Sections 66C and 66D of the IT Act, and several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Investigators are currently examining the victim’s phone records, bank account details, and the money trail leading to the shell entity in Maharashtra.

Police suspect the involvement of an organized cybercrime syndicate operating across state borders.

A Chilling Reminder

This case highlights the deadly consequences of “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement agencies to terrorize victims into transferring money.

Authorities have once again urged citizens not to respond to unsolicited calls claiming to be from police, ED, or RBI, and to verify any such communication directly with official agencies before taking action.